Businesswoman who went grey says ditch the dye in lockdown!

A Meath woman who ditched the hair dye three years ago has advised those fretting in lockdown to go au natural and embrace their grey tresses.

Irish women are clearing supermarket shelves of home dye in a bid to cover up their Covid-19 roots until hairdressers re-open but Ciara Burke says she will never return to colouring her locks again.

However the Duleek businesswoman believes that some husbands might not approve of their other halves going au natural.

“I think it initially got to me that I was stupid to be sitting in a hairdressers every four weeks for three hours getting a colour to cover my grey,” said the 49-year old.

“Even at that, I had to use the shop-bought sprays to conceal the roots in between hair appointments so I finally realised how grey I was and what else I could be doing with the time that I was spending getting my hair done.

Transition time...from dark to grey

“I decided that it is what it is and I was going to make the best of what I have naturally. It took three months to grow it out so I wore a few scarves and eventually got the remnants cut out.

“At first, it was so short, I did look a bit like a convict and my four daughters wouldn't let me collect them from school,” she laughed.

“They keep telling me to put a dye in it as I look older but I wouldn't go back

“I have the confidence in that I don't care what other people think. But I think to compensate for the hair colour, you have to dress up a bit and wear made-up because you do look a bit older.”

New look... Ciara Burke

However, she admits that grey is not for everyone and can take courage to wear.

“I've a friend and she was going mental over her hair so she rang her hairdresser to get the colour number and ordered the whole lot, peroxide and all online.”

Ciara says her hair is also often a talking point with customers at her coffee and gift shop Sage & Stone.

“Many women often tell me they'd love to go grey but haven't the guts and a lot say their husband wouldn't let them but I say, try it. It worked for me and it's liberating.”